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Challenges on the street

Warrior1256

Site Benefactor
I was passing through Denver last year and stopped for a Burger. I was challenged by a man who ask me if I Was a traveling man. I responded that I was indeed, traveling from the west to east. He ask how old my dog was. I told him my dog's age had nothing to do with wether or not I was Mason and ask him what lodge he was from and if he had a current dues card. He then said that he should remove my ring. I responded that this was not going happen. My Order arrived and I left. I Felt bad about this encounter during the rest of the trip.
In my opinion you handled this situation very well. It really galls me that someone would think that they have to right to take someone's personal property because someone would refuse to answer their questions or didn't answer them to their satisfaction.
 

Dontrell Stroman

Premium Member
In my opinion you handled this situation very well. It really galls me that someone would think that they have to right to take someone's personal property because someone would refuse to answer their questions or didn't answer them to their satisfaction.
That has always been my argument. I'm not giving my ring or anything else I bought. The only person that will ever get my Masonic regalia will be my son when I die or if he chooses to become a mason when he becomes of age.
 

Dontrell Stroman

Premium Member
I believe we need to specify, please don't think a brother asking you if you are a ....... Or about the little dog is a challenge. The majority of brothers that ask these questions are just having fun or being cordial. You can tell by the way a brother approaches you if he's trying to challenge you or not. I refuse to take any challenges from anyone outside of a tiled lodge. Me and my brothers cut up sometimes in the lodge, but its nothing serious. These questions also serve a purpose when in the presence of non masons. For instance, how many guys have you met that wear a ring that was given to them, or they "claim" they are a freemason. I've met some. If you were to ask a guy that "claims" he is a mason because he is wearing a ring, if he is a mason; he would probably say yes. It would be kinda hard to answer these questions unless you are a mason. Because even if you have read online and memorized something, there's things you can only learn within lodge.
 

Warrior1256

Site Benefactor
That has always been my argument. I'm not giving my ring or anything else I bought.
Agreed! If they get my personal property they'll have to take it!
I believe we need to specify, please don't think a brother asking you if you are a ....... Or about the little dog is a challenge. The majority of brothers that ask these questions are just having fun or being cordial.
I understand this and totally agree.
 

Warrior1256

Site Benefactor
Because even if you have read online and memorized something, there's things you can only learn within lodge.
Yeah, I've looked at many of these sites that lay out rituals and claim that they are authentic and they all have one thing in common....all of them have some parts right and some parts wrong.
 

acjohnson53

Registered User
I have a serious question for brothers that are a little more informative on the "challenge" what happens if a brother can't answer a question and he refuses to take his emblems off ?

I was in the same boat u were in, I called those kind of brothers that don't have nuttin else better to do... I just look at them....But at the end of the day u took that obligation, and that don't make them any better than u...I have a hard time remembering stuff, but when the gavel is dropped it's show time....U hear it so much to where u basically memorize the opening and closing of the Lodge, Degree work becomes almost second nature to u. So don't trip...I had a Brother like that and he was wearing his light upside down because he didn't want to be challenged. I had to enlighten him...
 

dfreybur

Premium Member
I agree brother, but you know what. One of my first memories of freemasonry was of an IFAAM. He was my JROTC teacher. I remember asking him what was on his ring. He finally one day said "look, I'm an international mason son". I said what's that. He said "I can travel anywhere in the world and be taken as a brother." I thought that was so cool.

The sad part is he can't be taken as a brother everywhere in the world if he actually tries it. Yet those of us in regular and recognized jurisdictions can. He probably still does not know that to this day.

I encountered some International lower-case-b brothers or step brothers near Chicago. They said their jurisdiction was out of Ohio. Interesting how the stories different member to member or location to location.
 

Dontrell Stroman

Premium Member
The sad part is he can't be taken as a brother everywhere in the world if he actually tries it. Yet those of us in regular and recognized jurisdictions can. He probably still does not know that to this day.

I encountered some International lower-case-b brothers or step brothers near Chicago. They said their jurisdiction was out of Ohio. Interesting how the stories different member to member or location to location.
Your absolutely right. I bet that is one of the cons to their recruitment techniques. Speaking on Chicago, thats were he was made a mason. Truthfully I don't believe anyone is an "International mason" only for the sole purpose of not every Masonic affiliation is recognized by their counterparts.
 

Derinique Kendrick

Registered User
Absolutely nothing you walk away ....
Exactly where I was going with it. There's no way a true brother would go out of his way, breaking the law by the way, just to make you remove an emblem because you refused to answer a question or you got it wrong in his eyes. I really doubt any true brother would risk masonic charges, let alone criminal charges over a piece of clothing or an emblem on a car, and if people really feel they have to take it to that level, they should really evaluate why they are even a "brother" in the first place.
 
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